”Education is the great engine of personal development. It is through education that the daughter of a peasant can become a doctor. That a son of a mineworker can become the head of the mine and that a child of farm workers can become the president of a great nation. It is what we make out of what we have, not what we are given, that separates one person from another.” – Nelson Mandela.
This sentiment was echoed to thousands of first-year students attending informative orientation programmes at UJ. They are part of the select few first-years students admitted to register at the University of Johannesburg (UJ) for studies in 2015.
As part of the informative annual First Year Seminar (FYS), the orientation programmes aimed to assist the transition from high school to tertiary education, take place before the beginning of the academic year during which a variety of events are held to orient new students with campus life and the wide range of academic development and support services the UJ. These include the Library and Information Centres, Reading and Writing Centres, the Computer Facilities, Counselling and Career Development and the Career Resource Centres.
Students also learn about the dedicated team looking after their safety and about the services available to them via the Health Clinics situated on each campus. They get to meet lectures, receive their time tables and get to know their fellow students and the campus you will be studying on. The Seminar consists of the Faculty’s Dean’s Welcome address, academic orientation to the Faculty, the Department and the specific programmes for which the students have been accepted.
With the Seminar students have the opportunity acquaint themselves with the various Student Societies on the campuses, get involved in the many cultural activities and the several sport clubs. Day House were presented as a prospect for students to truly integrate into university life.
Ms Susanne Taylor (Senior Manager: Academic Development & Support Services) says: “Orientation is essential in welcoming students to UJ and engages them with the traditions and values of the institution’s community. The FYS is compulsory and very enlightening; fun activities are included for new students such as rag week, music festivals etcetera so don’t you miss out. Walala wasala!”
First-year students Ms Thato Ditlhake and Ms Nthabiseng Mabitsela give orientation a thumbs up and do not regret attending the seminar. They both found orientation to be educational, fun and exciting and if given the opportunity to do it all again they wouldn’t change a thing.
The informative orientation programmes run from Monday, 19 January until 30 January 2015.
